Work Text:
I Dadwen en Ernil Legolas
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The Return of Prince Legolas
Arod was calm and a slight breeze moved his mane as he continued his way north. Even his rider was in a good mood and enjoyed the peace that had fallen on Middle Earth after the great storm that had shaken it and that would soon bear fruit in legends and songs as the great "War of the Ring".
By now a lunar cycle and a half had passed, but the victory over the Evil of Mordor was still slowly savored by the inhabitants of Middle Earth and the fallen for freedom still mourned.
It was only the beginning of the Fourth Age, but Prince Legolas had the impression that it would be a thriving and happy Age.
His friends had found peace. Aragorn, now King Elessar, was happily united with Arwen and their story was comparable to that of Beren and Lúthien. The brave Hobbits had returned home to the peaceful Shire and Gimli had brought Dwarves to live in the Glittering Caves, on which he now reigned as Lord.
Now it was time to go home for him too and this time in a more definitive way. For 77 years, after the Battle of the Five Armies, he had come and gone to Mirkwood relentlessly. He had always remained just for short periods, until Aran (king) Thranduil assigned him a new mission. He knew that during that time his adar (father) had worried about him, but the Prince had needed to know the world to know himself.
Now the time had come to really go back and even though Legolas knew that the Calling of the sea would remain, he had decided that he would spend at least some time in Mirkwood, to face his duties as a Prince and to see all the people dear to him, his friends, whom he had somewhat overlooked in recent times.
He had ridden along the Great River and passed the Brown Lands and Lothlórien and gradually approached the great wood that had been his home since his birth, he felt warmth in his heart.
He knew that the borders now reached the Narrows and that his adar (father), in agreement with Lord Celeborn, had renamed the kingdom Eryn Lasgalen , the Wood of Green Leaves. A suitable name, he thought with a smile.
At the sight of the first large green trees, Legolas made Arod stop for a moment to admire the view. It was just as he remembered it, only greener and the dark shadow that had covered the woods for many years had completely vanished.
The Prince knew that Sauron's war and destruction had also come to the north and that his adar (father), together with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, had fought hard for victory. There was no longer any trace of the horrors of the war. As the Lady of Light did for Lothlórien and Lord Elrond did for Imladris (Rivendell), Aran (king) Thranduil protected his kingdom with his elven magic and influenced its woods and lands and now Eryn Lasgalen was more flourishing than ever.
When he entered the woods and the trees welcomed him with the rustle of leaves, Legolas felt so much happiness in his heart that he felt like the young elfling he had once been, who climbed from branch to branch as a child. He was home.
He enjoyed the smell of the woods and the chirping of birds and went on silently, absently stroking Arod's neck.
Then he came to the Narrows and was spotted by some guards. An expression was painted on their faces that went from pure disbelief to joy and Legolas almost had to smile. Then they knelt down: " Suilad bardh, Ernil nin . (Welcome home, my Prince.)", they greeted him. The Prince returned the greeting: " Hannon le (thank you), I am glad to be here.".
One of the guards was sent to King's Halls to warn of the Prince's return and so, when Legolas arrived near the gates escorted by the rest of the guards, he was announced by the sound of a horn and someone shouted: " Ernil (prince) Legolas returns!".
He was pleased to see that the atmosphere was much quieter and that fewer guards patrolled the entrances of the Halls, the time of isolation was over.
Immediately after the gates the most important people of the Realm had gathered to welcome him, but more importantly, Aran (king) Thranduil, with a prideful look and as majestic as ever, was in front of everyone waiting for him. A smile formed on his lips, he had missed him.
Once he reached the bridge, he jumped off Arod and entrusted him to a tirith (guard), then crossed it with sure steps.
Thranduil did not smile often, not after the Queen's death, he had always been a good father, but never particularly affectionate. However, when the Prince came to meet him a slight smile raised his lips, but above all his eyes brightened and he warmly placed a hand on his son's shoulder, who did the same thing. " Ion nin (my son)", he lowered his head very slightly as a sign of respect: "I am glad you came back safely.". Legolas also lowered his head and smiled: " Hannon le, adar (thank you, father). I am happy to see you."
He then went on to greet other old acquaintances, such as Galion, the slightly clumsy, but loyal and friendly personal servant of the Aran (king), some council members such as Calanon, Glandur, Alyan, Mirima and Arasinya and then, just behind the right of his adar (father), there was the red-haired Captain of the Guard. Tauriel had changed, but then he had too. Physically she was the same as 77 years ago, but new wisdom could be seen in her eyes and she seemed to have learned to control the flame that burned in her. Legolas knew that there were many unspoken things between them that weighed down the silence of almost 80 years and he also knew that some things had gone wrong and remained broke. At that moment, however, it did not matter. They had been friends, best friends, companions in arms and adventures, before growing up and knowing for the first time the sometimes destructive power of love. There were things they would have to talk about, but first of all, they remained friends who meet again after a long time.
He took her hand and smiled warmly, she returned the smile, but still formally lowered her head. " Suilad bardh, Ernil nin Legolas. (Welcome home, my Prince Legolas.).", she whispered then. He let go of her hand so as not to be too inappropriate, but kept smiling: " Hannon le (thank you), Tauriel.", he replied.
When he entered his quarters, he was happy to notice that they were just as he had left them and had to admit that, as much as he enjoyed an adventurous life, he had missed his soft and comfortable bed and warm baths.
He trembled with the desire to walk through the Halls and the gardens to see what had changed and what had remained as he remembered it.
However, it was already late afternoon and that evening he would have had dinner with his adar (father), so he decided that various walks would have had to wait.
He took off his traveling clothes and started to fill the tub with hot water, while unraveling the braids. It was only when he immersed himself in the warm water that he realized how long the journey from Rohan to Eryn Lasgalen really had been. Satisfied he leaned his head back, that night he would have slept well.
When he felt relaxed enough, he got out of the tub and got dressed. Legolas looked at himself in the mirror as he made his braids. He wore fine clothes, nothing extravagant though and had returned to being a Prince. Observing himself, he was pleased to see that it did not upset him, it was an important position and he was ready to do his best and follow his duties, but being Prince seemed less heavy than once, perhaps because he had now understood that whatever he would face, he would always be able to find himself and his heart.
For a moment he considered wearing his circlet, but in the end he decided against it. It was just a dinner with his adar (father) and nobody else would have been present, besides the fact that he was quite sure that also Thranduil would not have worn his crow.
He walked to the quarters of the Aran (king) and when he got there he knocked on the doors. "Come in, Legolas.", he heard.
As he had assumed, Thranduil did not wear his crown and he too had opted for fine, but not too formal, clothes. The Prince, who perhaps internally feared the coldness of his adar (father), was happy to note that their relationship did not seem to have changed. Dinner was served in the dining room as quickly as possible, after which all the servants were dismissed. His adar (father) poured wine into his chalice. Legolas smiled and raised an eyebrow, he felt strangely at ease: "White wine, light and sparkling, my favorite. And yet you prefer sweeter red.", he noticed.
"It is not my return that we are celebrating.", Thranduil said neutrally. "Then I thank you, adar (father).", the Prince answered and raised his chalice for a toast: "To the victory of the free people of Middle Earth over the Evil of Sauron.".
The Aran (king) nodded and raised his glass, without yet touching that of Legolas. "And to you who left as a good and came back ad a great ellon (male elf), ion nin (my son),", he said quietly and they toasted.
Thranduil had never been a father of many words of praise, so the Prince knew the great value of what his adar (father) had just told him.
For a while they ate in peace, then King Thranduil asked his son about the great battle that had taken place in Minas Tirith and the one in front of the Black Gates. Then he inquired about Arathorn's son.
Legolas was happy to tell and have the attention of his adar (father). "Everyone fought valiantly, but Minas Tirith would have fallen if the Knights of Rohan and the Army of the Dead had not come to help. Sauron had gathered a significant number of mercenaries in addition to the armies of Orcs. After the battle at the Black Gates Aragorn was crowned by Mithrandir. He was joined by Lady Arwen and the marriage followed shortly after the blessing that Elrond gave them. They will be a good Aran (king) and Rîs (queen). ", he said. "I do not doubt it,", Thranduil replied: "I knew Arathorn, he was a good man."
The Prince took another sip of wine: "What happened here instead? I heard about the battle and the fall of Dol Guldur.", he asked then. His adar (father) nodded: "Yes, we joined forces with Lothlórien and Galadriel destroyed the walls of the stronghold. But what cost us the most was the Battle under the Trees, the victory was hard earned. Many valiant gaudon (warriors) have lost their lives. ", the Aran (king) informed him and Legolas saw for a moment the shadow of the loss in his clear eyes.
Dinner ended silently and father and son simply enjoyed each other's company. Shortly afterwards Thranduil wished him a good night and Legolas was free to retire to his quarters.
However, when he was about to enter he stopped, he was not yet very tired and he really wanted to take a walk through the Halls and he also knew in the company of whom.
With silent steps he left the royal wing and headed for the chambers of the important members of the Court that were not too far away. As a elfling he had made the same path countless times, often late at night and on tiptoe so as not to be discovered. When he reached the oak doors, he wondered for a moment if these were still the rooms of the Captain of the Guard, but a sweet scent of lavender and jasmine confirmed it: the temperamental red-haired elleth (she-elf) had kept her chambers.
On the one hand he missed their friendship and all their adventures, yet he knew that not everything could have been as before. There were certain things that could not be ignored and others that should have been discussed and Legolas knew that if it did not happen tonight, it would happen soon.
Before getting anxious and changing his mind, the Prince knocked on the doors and hoped not to wake her.
A few seconds later she was in front of him. She was fully dressed and had a determined look, she probably had thought it was an emergency. But when she found Legolas in front of her, she stopped with her mouth half open and large eyes.
For a moment there was silence, then the Prince thought it would be good to explain himself, before making the situation seem too strange. He smiled at her: "Tauriel. I hope I have not woken you up.", he said even though it was obvious he had not, since the elleth (she-elf) was almost still wearing her complete uniform. She shook her head, but said nothing. "I know it's late, but I was wondering if you wanted to join me for a little walk through the Halls, since I have not been here for a while," he proposed. The Captain of the Guard nodded: "Willingly, Ernil nin (my Prince).".
77 years ago he would have told her with a smile to call him by name and actually 77 years ago she would never have called him " Ernil " (Prince), certainly not when they were alone. For the moment, however, he was happy that the elleth (she-elf) had agreed to accompany him, there would be the right time to talk about certain things later.
Silently, but in mutual agreement they headed towards the Royal Gardens. They had trained and then fought side by side since they were elflings, so there was no need for words to know where they would go.
The Royal Gardens were actually open to the whole Court, but their name kept away those who were not aware of that fact and so it had always been one of the favorite places of the Prince and the Captain of the Guard. There they had told each other secrets and legends of valiant warriors, they had spent the nights after feasts drunk, laughing and joking, in short, this place was full of good memories.
For a while they simply walked side by side, while the cool night air caressed their faces.
"I heard you fought like a real hero alongside your companions of the Fellowship of the Ring. You will become a legend.", Tauriel interrupted the silence. Legolas chuckled: "I am sure you did the same thing and I am happy to find you in excellent health.", he replied. The elleth (she-elf) sighed: "It was a tough battle and I got away with little more than a scratch, but there were others less fortunate.". "Yes, my adar (father) told me.", the prince said and stopped in front of a bush with white flowers to observe the bright stars.
Tauriel also stopped and turning to her, Legolas saw that the stars mirrored in her green eyes. She was as beautiful as he remembered her and his heart warmed at the memory of all the moments when he had observed her and thought the same thing.
"What have you been doing in this month and a half?", she asked then. The prince turned his gaze to the stars again: "I stayed in Minas Tirith for the crowning of Aragorn and his marriage to Lady Arwen. After that I visited the Glittering Caves and Fangorn Forest together with Gimli, a dear friend of the Fellowship of the Ring. We had decided to do that even before the defeat of Sauron and I am happy to have visited two such wonderful places with him. Gimli even brought some Dwarfs of Erebor to live in the Glittering Caves and they offered to rebuild the Gates of the White City.", he told her. "So you made friends with a Dwarf. You really changed, then, Ernil nin (my Prince).", the Hest (Captain) of the Guard commented.
The ellon (male elf) let out a barely audible sigh. The time had come and Legolas knew there was no way to avoid that discussion.
He exhaled, there was no coming back: "When was the last time you called me like that, Tauriel? I know it has been a while since we spent time with each other, but we grew up together and I still care a lot about this friendship . I ... ", he tried to explain his thoughts, but was interrupted by the ellth (she-elf). "I am sorry I hurt you.". she said as if she could no longer restrain herself and that sentence completely froze Legolas.
He had often thought of a hypothetical return home and in his dreams he had imagined that discussion in a thousand different ways, but now after those words, he had suddenly forgotten all that he wanted to say. He simply looked at Tauriel, not knowing what to do. She looked at her hands as she twisted them: "I am sorry if I seemed so cold to you. I am really happy that you came back and I have not forgotten all that we lived together. It is just that I did not know how to act, because I was surprised by your kindness, because I was not with you, kind. ".
The Prince did not know exactly what to say, so he decided that the least difficult path would be plain and simple truth. "I ... I believe that some things went wrong between you and... It could have all gone differently. But now there is nothing more we can do about it.", he then spoke softly. Tauriel nodded, "Yes, but I did many things wrong and I was not fair to you. I thought you had not forgiven me after the battle at Ravenhill.", she said bitterly. Legolas was quite surprised: "Did I give you that impression?", but she simply did not answer and evaded his gaze. "If I did, know that it was not my intention. I was ... I was just so confused. We were so close and then one day a company of Dwarfs arrives in our woods and you suddenly seemed so distant to me, as if that Dwarf had torn you from me. I was stupidly jealous. ", he ended with a sigh and realized that it was more a confession to himself.
Now it was he who avoided her gaze, while the Hest (captain) turned to him: "And I realized it, but I did not do anything and I let you burn in jealousy," she said with a sad look. Legolas still did not want to turn around. "So you knew. You knew about my feelings for you.", he asked for confirmation. Tauriel bit her lower lip as she always did when she was nervous: "We were ... we are best friends. Of course I knew it, I knew you better than anyone.", she whispered.
The prince frowned, they had always been sincere with each other and there had been a time when it really seemed to him that the red-hated elleth (she-elf) returned his attentions, she also had just confirmed that she knew the kind of feelings he had, yet she never said anything. He was confused, something escaped him. Then suddenly it was all very clear and logical: "My adar (father) said something to you about it."
It was not a question, but a statement and his suspicions were confirmed by how Tauriel lowered her head, red in the face with shame. When she looked up, Legolas noticed that her eyes were shiny. "He told me what I had already suspected. That he would not allow his son to pledge himself to a Silvan elf. I listened to him and thought that the best way to get you away from me a little, was to be more detached.", she admitted.
A tear of bitterness streaked her face: "By the Valar! I am ridiculous!". The Prince sighed for the umpteenth time, it made no sense to get angry now with his adar (father) for something that had happened 77 years ago, it did not matter anymore. So he wiped the tear from Tauriel's face with his thumb and laughed feignedly dejected: "Dear Aran (king) Thranduil always finds a way to get involved in my life, in a good or bad way.".
The elleth (she-elf) seemed a little calmer: "He loves you deeply. In these years he has suffered from your absence.", she reminded him. "I know, but that does not justify him to intervene in my personal matters and above all not in my love life.", he replied. Then he smiled a little because it was strange to hear Tauriel defend his adar (father), when she had always been the first to question his decisions with her flaming spirit.
Legolas was burning with the need to ask the Hest (captain) a question, for a while he let the quiet of the night envelop them and calm their souls.
Then he caught her eyes in his own: "Did you love him? The Dwarf?", he dared to ask. Tauriel did not look down, but began to twist her hands again, then nodded slightly: "I ... I believe so.", she took a deep breath: "But it was all so short. Like the flame of a match. I did not even have time to think about it and it was already over.", she said in a low voice.
There was another question, of course, that the Prince would have liked to ask her, but he feared he did not want to know the answer or that Tauriel would not know it, so he let his thoughts wander in the memories of the Battle of the Five Armies. "I was afraid you were going to fade. Yet I went away without even saying goodbye, again jealousy took control of me.", he admitted with a little anger in his voice. Tauriel sighed: "You were hurt. You followed me risking your life for me and I rejected you in return.".
Legolas disagreed: "You too saved my life more than once and I left nonetheless. I was not really a great best friend, you had just lost someone important and there was a good chance that you would fade. ", he spoke slightly bitter.
The elleth (she-elf) shook her head and turned to him, this time with a smile on her lips: "But I did not. I did not fade, because there was someone else I loved, maybe I did not know exactly what kind of love it was, but I would have done and would still do anything for you. And you needed to leave, you needed to find yourself. And now look at you! You have changed, you smile more and you are much more open to the world around you! You came back as a hero, a grown ellon (male elf) and a Prince.".
Legolas gave her a sweet look accompanied by a smile: "And I would do the same thing for you.". Then in a playful tone he continued: "Now that I am back as a hero, as you say ... will I not even receive a hug?".
Tauriel initially approached a little hesitantly, but then encircled his neck with her arms. Legolas also hugged her tightly and ran a hand over her long hair: "Oh, I missed you, mellon nin (my friend).", he whispered in her ear and heard her laugh softly.
They set on a marble bench still half embraced and the Hest (captain) rested her head on his shoulder, as they looked at the bright stars, as they did when they were two young elves looking for adventures.
The Prince was happy to have his best friend back and for now it was enough. His feelings had not changed, but there was no hurry and they would think about it later.
"Have you already told your adar (father)?" Tauriel spoke after a while. "Told what?", her friend asked without moving. Suddenly she laughed heartily and gave him a slight push: "That your new best friend is a Dwarf." Legolas joined her laughter: "I already imagine the face he will do!".